CLITHEROE boss Steve Parry has called on his troops to launch a serious bid on the First North West Trains Division One title.

Parry's men have suffered a stop-start season to date as his men have been struck by that dreaded football curse - inconsistency.

"We have not given up on the league title," said Parry on the eve of his side's testing trip to Abbey Hey.

Clitheroe lie fourth in the table, just six points behind leaders Vauxhall Motors, but they've played more games than all their main rivals.

"We aren't as high up the table as I would have hoped, but from what I have seen, the league is more open than it has been for several seasons," said Parry.

"There is only one side, Newcastle Town, who are threatening to pull away, but they have a lots of tough games to come.

"We have to play them twice, so there are still a lot of points to aim for."

The Blues' midweek stalemate against Atherton Collieries at Shawbridge was typical of the frustration that Parry and his side have had to endure.

But he still believes his side can start to click.

"We have drawn too many games at home.

"The Atherton match this week was just the latest.

"So far we have drawn to Glossop, Leek, Nantwich and Atherton at home.

"And we have had chances to win all of them. "That is eight points we have dropped.

"If we are to make a challenge, and I firmly believe we can, those are the sorts of games we have to start winning.

"The bottom line is we have to be more consistent."

Parry is taking comfort from the example of Workington last season.

"They won the title, but they did not start their run until the end of November."

Clitheroe's early exit from the FA Cup and exemption from the FA Vase, are the reasons they have played so many more games than their rivals.

In fact, they are almost halfway through their league fixtures.

"It's crazy really. We are only three months into the season and we have almost finished half our games.

"But we still have plenty of points to play for."

Parry is also on the lookout for more players to bolster his squad. "We are still a couple of players short.

"I have known that for some time.

"But we are working hard on that side of things. A couple of players could come in and complete the picture."

In the meantime, Parry will be selecting from the same squad that was on duty in midweek for tomorrow's game plus Mark Stewart, who is back after suffering from 'flu.

"We beat Abbey Hey recently at our place and know all about them," he said.

"Their forwards are a good pairing and will be a danger."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.